Windows is a program sold by the Microsoft Corporation that expands
the memory, enhances the performance, and makes working with your
microcomputer much easier. It accomplishes this by replacing the awkward
commands of DOS with a helpful interface called a graphical user
interface (GUI). The GUI manages the memory of your computer to allow it
to utilize all of the memory available. Windows allows your computer to
run an integrated environment where the different programs that you work
with are readily available, all of the applications run consistently,
and the different applications are easily linked to each other. It
doesn't matter whether you are working with a wordprocessor,
spreadsheet, database management system, graphics package, or
telecommunications package; all of the applications show similar menus
that are easy to use. The integrated environment lets you to transfer
information between the applications effortlessly. This means that you
will be able to generate a spreadsheet in Lotus 1-2-3 and copy that
spreadsheet to WordPerfect as easily as copying text within one
application package.

The graphical user interface allows you to communicate with your
computer through easy-to-use menus and pictures called icons, instead of
using those difficult DOS commands to run your application software.
With the graphical user interface environment, you use a mouse with the
keyboard to control the computer and the information on the screen. The
graphical user interface also allows you to view the information
produced by the application you are running exactly as it would show up
when printed. This ability is called WYSIWYG, or "what you see is
what you get".

Graphical User Interface

The hardware system requirements for Windows are: IBM or compatible
microcomputer with at least 640K of RAM, DOS 3.1 or higher, a hard disk
with at least 6 Meg of free space, a floppy disk drive, and a graphics
monitor with an adapter card. A color monitor is preferred to take
advantage of the different Windows screens and displays.

Windows allows you to run more than one application at the same time.
This multitasking ability allows you to run as many applications as your
memory will permit. The Windows environment gives your computer access
to extended memory allowing the RAM memory to go beyond the conventional
640K, a limitation of computers of the past.

Windows is meant to run on a computer with an 80386 processor, but
Microsoft has designed it to adapt to other types of procesors, with
other sizes of RAM memory. It does this by switching to one of three
modes of operation automatically. The different modes are: real,
standard, and enhanced. Each mode is designed to get the maximum
effectiveness out of your computer.

The real mode is designed for 8088 or 8086 processors. Windows, in
this mode, is limited to 640K, which will eliminate the memory control,
but will run some of the older Windows applications. The standard mode
is designed for 80286 processors and will allow your computer to access
the entire 16Mb of extended memory. You will be able to multitask with
Windows application packages, or your computer will be able to run
DOS-based applications, but not both simultaneously. In other words you
can only run either Windows applications or DOS applications, but not
both at the same time. The enhanced mode is designed to run on 80386 or
80386SX processors and allows your computer to access up to 4Gb of RAM.
You will be able to multitask with both Windows and non-Windows (DOS)
applications. Also, with the enhanced mode the processor of your
computer uses a combination of RAM and the hard disk, giving you access
to more computer memory than would normally be available.

The Windows program comes with built-in accessory programs which give
you access to a word processing program called Write, a drawing program
called Paintbrush, and a communications package titled Terminal. Other
utilities built in include a clock, an appointment calendar, a cardfile,
a calculator, a notepad, a macro recorder, and a PIF editor (Program
Information File) which provides information that Windows needs to run
non-Windows applications.

Starting Up

Once you start up Windows, you are in the Program Manager, the main
area for all of the work you will do in the Windows program. Contained
within the Program Manager are different utilities for managing files,
controlling the display, controlling printing, managing the clipboard
(which is used primarily to copy and move information), controlling
Windows, and working with the DOS prompt if desired. The display of
Windows is made up of actual bordered windows containing icons,
(pictures) that indicate different utilities available.

There are two different types of userwindows available: application
and document. Application windows contain the software programs that are
currently being accessed, such as the Program Manager. A document window
is an area inside an application window.

You will utilize the mouse to run Windows. There is an arrow icon
indicating where the mouse is located on the screen. You will move,
click, double click, and/or drag the mouse to input the different
commands wished. There is also a menu bar at the top of the window which
has commands designed to carry out a specific purpose. Housed within
each command is a drop-down menu containing submenus for each command on
the top line.

To start an application from the Program Manager, you no longer have
to enter a DOS command, you only need to move the mouse to the icon
depicting the application desired and double click the mouse. With the
mouse, it is very easy to start the application, work with the
application, move around the contents of the window, adjust the size and
location of the window, close the window, utilize the commands and
drop-down menus to perform a specific operation within the window, get
help with Windows, and perform file management operations.

You may have a number of windows open at one time on the screen, with
only one window being the active or current window. The active window is
in the foreground with a different colored title bar than the rest of
the windows. The windows may overlap each other, but the active window
is always in the front of the inactive windows. To switch between
windows, you only need to move the mouse indicator to the desired window
and click the mouse making that window the active window and having it
appear in the foreground.

Windows uses a series of group windows to organize the applications
into similar categories. This works much like the arranging of
subdirectories within DOS. The group window contains similar
applications; a Non-Windows group will contain all of the DOS-type
applications, while the Windows group will contain all of the Windows
applications. Within each group window are program icons indicating the
different applications stored on your microcomputer. It is easy to add
or delete group windows or to add or delete program icons to your screen
display. It is also easy to move, or copy, program icons between
different group windows.

Easy Use, Numerous Features

Working with Windows is very easy. Commands that you would normally
have trouble with in DOS, such as the creation of a subdirectory, or the
copying of certain files between floppy disks, is a snap with the
Windows environment and the use of the mouse. You no longer have to
key-in the long DOS command. You need only click the mouse.

Write is the word processor that is included with Windows. It is a
capable word processing application program that is very nice for the
everyday jobs of an office worker such as the writing of memos, reports,
and letters. However, it is a somewhat limited word processor. It does
not include some of the advanced features of a full-blown word
processor, such as a spell checking utility, a thesaurus, and a mail
merge capability. Write makes it easy to edit text, move or copy text,
change the appearance of text, format the document, change fonts and
font sizes, and format paragraphs.

Paintbrush is the drawing program that is included with Windows. It
is a graphics application that allows you to produce a wide assortment
of drawings in a variety of formats, such as greeting cards,
newsletters, and letterheads for documents. It is an uncomplicated
application to use, with icons that are descriptive and easily
understood. You can generate drawings or graphics using Paintbrush and
integrate them into any of the other Windows application programs.

It is very simple to transfer information between applications.
Windows uses a feature called the Clipboard to perform these transfers.
The Clipboard is a part of the memory of the computer and is available
to all applications. By using the Clipboard, you are able to combine
text and graphics quickly and easily. Before such integration was
possible, this endeavor was either very difficult or extremely time
consuming. Also by way of the Clipboard, you are able to capture images
directly from the monitor screen. When captured, the screen contents are
copied onto the Clipboard and can be brought into any application as is,
or may be edited by bringing the image into Paintbrush. This feature
makes it easy to show others a captured picture of anything appearing on
the desktop.

Terminal is a communications application that allows you to connect
your computer to other computers and exchange information via a modem
and standard telephone lines.

The Print Manager is also included with Windows. It is a utility
program that controls the printing of all Windows applications. It runs
in the background and will accept printing jobs at any time. This allows
you to work on any application while a job is printing, eliminating the
waiting for a job to print before continuing.

New Enhanced Version

Most recently, an enhanced version of Windows 3.0 has been
released--Windows 3.1. This version features stronger network support,
an improved Program Manager with a startup group, the ability to easily
assign working directories, and a library of new icons for MS-DOS-based
applications. A faster File Manager includes a quick format command, a
vastly improved split window layout, and new and efficient ways to
manipulate files. The enhancements also include user-defined shortcut
keys, drag-and-drop printing and program launch, object linking and
embedding technology to offer an easier way to share information between
applications, built-in TrueType scalable fonts similar to Adobe Type
Manager, greater overall stability and diagnostic tools, and better
diagnosis of errors with more informative error messages.

Windows is an easy-to-run alternative to DOS, and will most assuredly
be an influencing factor in the future. With all of its advantages, it
makes the control of the computer very user friendly and uncomplicated.
Try it. You will be pleasantly surprised.

JOSEPH C. OTTO, Ph.D., is an associate professor in the department of
Office Systems and Business Education at California State University,
Los Angeles.

COPYRIGHT 1992 California State University, Los Angeles
No portion of this article can be reproduced without the express written permission from the copyright holder.